Top Cat Gets a Mortgage in Spot for U.K. Bank Halifax

Adam&Eve/DDB, Dom & Nic and The Mill Bring 80s Cartoon Back to Life

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U.K. bank Halifax has turned to iconic cartoon feline "Top Cat" in its latest spot, working with Warner Bros. to bring him back to life for the first time since the 80s.

The ad, by Adam&Eve/DDB London, sees Top Cat, Benny and the gang visit a Halifax branch in London when Officer Dibble moves them on from their trash can, and ask for a mortage. The animated characters interact with real-life Halifax employees, and the final scene seems the cat gang moving into their smart new home.

The Mill's VFX team worked with the agency and directorial duo Dom & Nic at Outsider, who are known for their work on projects such as The Chemical Brothers' Wide Open, to bring the original Top Cat character "back to life" in a modern setting. The team carried out extensive research into the original Top Cat design, studying every detail of the animation, including poses and gestures, so as to construct an authentic re-creation. They mimicked the hand-drawn style of the series by drawing the characters in to each individual frame by hand, whilst ensuring Top Cat and the gang appeared to interact with the modern world around them.The Mill team also hand-drew and animated the entire final sequence of the spot, featuring Officer Dibble with Top Cat and his brand new home, then treated to give it a classic retro look.

To mark the launch of the ad, Halifax has also commissioned graffiti community Global Street Art to create a Top Cat mural on a wall in Clerkenwell, London. Artists will begin on the evening of Monday April 25 and the mural will be on display until 8th May.